Yasumiya Suginamiki Avenue of Cedars

This avenue of Japanese cedars (Cryptomeria japonica) forms the main sando approach to Towada Shrine. In a travel journey written in 1807, Sugae Masumi, an Edo-era (1603–1867) literary figure known for his travels in Tohoku and Hokkaido, visited Towada and wrote “the entrance is marked by a number of torii standing amongst cedars. A road through the cedars leads to the shrine.” He noted that many people came to visit the shrine, and that they would commonly spend the night here. The name for the area, “Yasumiya,” means “rest house.” The 900 meter avenue of cedars from the entrance of the Towadaso Hotel to the Towada Shrine is a precious reminder of how this area looked in Sugae’s time.